VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S LITERARY JOURNAL

Shadow

by Imani Jefferson

Stripped of complete innocenceThe dark shadow lingering on my shouldersHow can I stand to fight?When my shoulders feel like the weight of the world is on them

Depression was my evil twinDepression was the reason I didn’t open the door when they came knocking for meDepression was the reason I let my phone ring and you knew it was seenDepression was the reason I decided to sleep instead of facing realityDepression was lying on the cold floor of the bathroom only able to feel the surfaceBecause my body was to numb to feel the tears of aching painDepression was the reason I was alone

I think I love the feeling of lonelinessBut no that was my shadow telling me that lie againI hated the four walls that I was all too familiar withThe fear of seeming weak to others so I remained in the box my shadow created

There was no way to escape my shadow…. It was a part of meJust when I thought I couldn’t see itThere it was telling me I could never beat it…